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Sunday, September 16, 2018

Rome, in early May, was a little wet this year. Aarti had packed a contoured peacock teal raincoat and I a loose canary yellow one. We splurged on renting a beautiful apartment near the Vatican and each bought a Week Pass on the public transport system for unlimited access to the metro and city buses. We were in Rome to see the ruins, visit churches, climb the dome of St Peter’s Basilica and to look at art and architecture. But also, we were in Rome to eat, hold hands, take photos and make new memories in this ancient playground.

Aarti is my best friend from college and she reminds me of me. Our hands are the same size and we are both brown girls who move around a lot. Except, we are not girls anymore. Women in our thirties now, with fuller hips and bigger ideas, we remind each other of our younger selves. We studied literature together and our kindred spirits were attracted. Friends since 2002 we had last spent a few hours together in Amsterdam when I was living there in 2006 and she was in transit between Delhi and Toronto. Now, twelve years later, we were meeting up for a week in Rome, alone together. Have a look at some photos and scroll down for some tips on how to enjoy Rome!

We took the photos above with our iPhones. Aarti was the official photographer. Here are some pics taken with her amazing camera! The fun part about using your smart phone camera is that its easy to post to Instagram or send photos to family via WhatsApp. That said, an actual stills camera is great for more formal portraits.

Guided by a well-versed and passionate tour guide, this walking tour really does show you the “B-side” of the Eternal City. There is so much to see in Rome that one has to constantly pause to look back andlook up. Our group of 15 or so tourists learned how to spot the dragons and eagles that distinguish the buildings belonging to the Borghese family, why there is an oculus in the Pantheon and where to get the biggest choice of gelato flavours.

2. First Sunday of the month free access to state museums and cultural sites:

Some free things are so popular they’ll make you wonder if it’s worth the trouble. If you want to see the famed Colosseum we recommend first going to the Palatine Hill using the entrance on Via di San Gregorio (where the lines are not as long) and the free ticket you receive there will also get you access to the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. Being in the midst of these ancient ruins will trip your brain, you won’t know if you’re in the middle of a film set, lost in time or just losing your mind.

Worth paying for

There is so much to see and do but these expenses were well worth our pennies!

1. AirBnB

Staying for a week? Stay for a week! Find a comfortable apartment with a kitchen you cook your delicious Italian groceries in. One with wi-fi and a generous supply of clean towels. A home away from home where you can eat breakfast on the balcony, watch Roman Holiday from the couch, and enjoy your daily walk home from the metro. Feel like a Roman!

2. All access tour of the Vatican

This is so worth it as you speed past the long lines and get an informed tour of all the players involved in the history of the Vatican City, insight into the artwork and lives of the artists and proper instructions on how to act when in the Sistine Chapel. Recommendation: Plan this for a sunny day and climb the stairs all the way to the top of the dome of St Peter’s Basilica. Worth e-v-e-r-y step! Also the small gift shop run by nuns on the rooftop is the cheapest in all of Rome!

3. Fly comfortably

Qatar Airways offers great fares from Windhoek to Rome via Doha. Make sure to book in advance for choice of rates and secure your Schengen visa on time.

4. Eat your weight in pasta

Food is very affordable in Rome. Avoid the tourist traps and follow the working class Romans to see where they get their lunchtime pizza and espressos. On a few occasions we splurged a little for some have-to-go to restaurants just to see what all the fuss was about. These two come highly recommended:

Da Enzo al 29 in Trastevere. Make a reservation and show up on time or come around early and get your name on the waiting list. Have the artichoke or asparagus if in season. And you must have the tiramisu (get your own - too good to share).

Alfredo e Ada at Via Dei Banchi Nuovi 14. A small intimate restaurant with only one server and one menu for the entire place! Delicious wholesome food from your Italian grandmother’s kitchen.

This is how you take an old-school selfie! We snapped this at the top of St. Peter's Basilica. The guard on the other side of this mirrored window was apparently having a good laugh at us. Ciao bella!

Sunday, March 11, 2018

I've been driving an old car. A beautiful, strong, green Mercedes Benz with a crazy radio that changed stations whenever I drove over a bump. The car was so cool it didn't have air conditioning. I loved it and knew it so well after driving it for years... but I was dying (of heat) and was excited to be on the market for a new car. Nobody (husband, brother, friend) recommended getting a new car. But after driving two used vehicles (the Mercedes and an unreliable third-hand Hyundai Tucson) I was ready for brand new. Everybody that I cared to listen to (mother, sister, car saleswoman) all said "Go for it! You'll never regret buying a new car." Well guess who I listened to..?

After endless hours watching car test videos on YouTube, ultimately crushing on one of the finer test drivers (nope, I'm not adding a link) and lunch hours and Saturday mornings spent test driving and ooohing and aaahing at car dealers all over town, I found a brand I could get into. There was endless paperwork. I had to weigh between an older model of a bigger vehicle or the new version of a smaller one (went for the smaller). Could I see myself driving a red car (short answer: no). Was I willing to give out more cash for a higher class vehicle with some negligible perks (also: no).

I went to the petrol station yesterday and the attendant looked at me and asked, "Where's the green Mercedes?" He wasn't the first to ask. I smiled back, "This is my car now".

Wednesday, April 05, 2017

It's been a minute... here are some fun things that have caught my eye lately.

An inspiring photo journal of a romantic trip.
I love this home tour of a global family.
But remember "I am not exotic I am exhausted".Blazing inspiration for officer attire.
I have this beauty as an office plant. Love.
When you want to think straight, you've just got to feng shui your desk. Great article!
One of my favourite photographers. Adore.
Our film got a lot of love at the Namibia Theatre & Film Awards. Hashtag #winning
Such a beautiful book. Love the title.
New book. Out soon!